The working world: June 2008 Archives
All of this talk about basic rights under the Constitution coming from the landmark Second Amendment decision from the Supreme Court yesterday got me thinking. Sure, the Constitution ensures basic rights. But can you really use them in today's world and not expect retribution from the entity that has the most power over us?
Think of the person who has the most direct power over you today. In everyday practice, it's not the government. Most likely, it's your boss, your company. They control a full 8 hours of your day. And, as it turns out, the carrot-and-stick that is your paycheck is a 24/7 retribution waiting to happen.
My college friend Lauren has a dilemma.
Her work department is having a beach retreat. Now who doesn't love the beach -- sun, sand, surf. It's great for vacations with friends and family.
But with coworkers?
That's a whole different story. Consider the wardrobe issue.
Just to get you started on your day here are some of today's big stories.
McCrory's site sells.
County mulls shorter week.
The Post's top editor to step down.
Former customers off limits to Verizon.
And my favorite sports story of the morning highlights the idiocy of some professional athletes. When ever will they learn...
Today is Take Your Dog To Work Day. Have you or anyone in your office brought their dog to work today?
Are dogs at work a distraction?
What are your thoughts on people bringing their pets to the office?
If you're over 40 and you're worried about losing your job, you have to see this link.
The Supreme Court said an employer now has to prove that it did not lay off workers because of their age. Before, employees would have had to prove they were laid off specifically because of their age if they wanted their jobs back or restitution.
What all that means:
If you didn't see today's business story about Maple-Vail Book Manufacturing Group, I suggested checking it out. Again not because I wrote it, but because it's another example of businesses taking steps in the green direction.
Are you familiar with any other businesses that are going green? I'm curious to know what our local employers are doing to be more environmentally friendly.
Leave a comment and let me know.
In general, it's a bad business practice to fire a manager at 3 a.m.
If you follow sports at all, you know I'm talking about the Mets firing Willie Randolph this morning.
From the reports I heard on SportsCenter this morning, it went something like this.
The Mets win the game against the Angels. Randolph is interviewed in the press conference talking about how the win was a building point for the team. A few hours later there's a press release saying the man has been canned.
I drove Northeast, Northwest and South from York this weekend, no farther than about 2 hours from the city in any direction. And I had some fun near DeHart Dam in Dauphin County fishing, in State College for a bachelor's party and with my in-laws in Towson.
So what was the cost? It was $80 in gas. And droopy eyes from being on the road so much. There really was no rest time because of the driving time.
Living and working in York is like the converse of living somewhere close to family or with decent entertainment a 5-minute drive away (personal preference of course, a nearby stream with more than a few hundred yards of fly-fishing only - and fish still alive - and a bar district you feel safe walking in past midnight are big ones for me) and commuting to a job.
Instead of the long drive to compliment the long workweek, the long drives compliments the end of the week. I pity the people who live up here and commute to Baltimore, then travel on the weekends, too.
Is being 2 hours from everywhere (probably the biggest selling point York has) still worth it when one weekend alone costs $80 just for gas? Are you worried gas prices are going to sink all the hard work people have been putting into the city over the past 5 years?
I have lots of great things to tell you about that are coming up this week so let's get right to it.
Today is the York County Sheriff's Office public sale at 2 p.m. These sales basically auction off houses that have for one reason or another fallen into foreclosure or have other financial issues. If you want more info on the sale, check Sean's column.
On Wednesday, the first book published using a new, eco-friendly printing method will be made in York County. More details on this to come.
There's been a ton going on this week what with Leader Health and Fitness closing (read about it here, here and here) and a snapping turtle being found in a sink at a Chinese food place.
In case you missed anything else going on this week, I'm here to catch you up.
Kiddies were buying smokes.
You probably shouldn't eat tomatoes for a little while.
Dollar strengthens a bit.
Early termination fees being questioned.
And in really sad breaking news, 58-year-old Tim Russert died today.
I have to give a big shout out at the staff over at the FlipSide blog for giving me a link to this sweet Web site.
These videos show procrastination at its best. One of my coworkers keeps a giant exercise ball under her desk. Don't tell her, but maybe I'll borrow it for some surf balling.
What are your best ways of procrastinating at work?
Good morning York. Hope you had a fantastic weekend and enjoyed the sunshine.
Here's a look at what you can expect this week.
The PA Department of General Services and the J.D. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship Women's Business Center Organization have organized an event tomorrow morning for women interested in doing business with the state.
I went to Hersheypark over the weekend thanks to some discounted tickets from a family member of a friend. And no, I didn't go on the cool new ride. I wore jeans to avoid third-degree sunburn on my pasty white legs, and someone set up a sprinkler - better purposed on a water ride - to keep those in line cool.
The 1.5-minute ride compared to wet, clingy jeans the rest of the day wasn't much of a decision. And there were nice, short, dry lines for the other coasters.
Whoo hoo it's Friday, and most of us only have a little bit of the work week left before it's time to kick back and celebrate the weekend and maybe check out the street rods.
Here's what you've missed this week if you've been living under a rock.
We love green.
I wouldn't want to be this woman.
Stocks tumble as oil soars.
New job opportunities at this plant.
Here's a shocker: SUV sales are down. Wonder if that could have something to do with the insane gas prices.
A yummy new business is coming to town.
Just for fun: Don't forget to check out this great street rods video shot by Bil Bowden and take our poll below.
Here's a fun little poll to help propel you into the weekend.
Every once in a while the chatter begins about four-day work weeks, but it's usually brushed aside and nothing ever comes of it.
That may change in Centre County where the commissioners are discussing the idea of converting to four-day work weeks to save workers fuel.
According to the news release about the Arm and Hammer plant coming to Jackson Township, the new plant has an established sustainability policy.
The plant will use renewable energy and cut energy waste by 30 percent and solid waste by 50 percent.
If you're interested in checking out exactly what the company has to say about the new Arm and Hammer plant coming to York, you can read the company's press release here.
What are your thoughts about a new plant coming to town?
Thanks to photographer Jason Plotkin for this photo.
Right now I am about to shamelessly plug a story that I wrote. Not because I wrote it, but because the story is a great one about a man who found the silver lining in being laid off. And we all know lay offs are an all too frequent happening lately.
Chris Robins used the opportunity to find something he truly enjoyed doing and made it his job.
This time last year, my fiance (now wife) Laura and I got our little pride and joy, a beagle mix named Lucy. She was a lost dog found on Hyde Street, according to the SPCA. I couldn't find such a place in York County on a map, so I like to think that she appeared straight out of thin air from heaven.
About the same time, Laura moved into a new apartment, and like most places with a yard, there were some problems with ants in the kitchen. So we got some ant traps and put them around the kitchen, and that worked for a day or two.
Until one night I saw a twisted piece of plastic on the floor, followed by another, and followed by two empty spots in the kitchen where the ant traps used to be. Lucy only gets the run of the kitchen when someone is at home, and wow it didn't take her long to sniff out these traps when we weren't looking.
Ever smell one? They use peanut butter flavoring as bait. I didn't know this. Nor did I know at the time how much Lucy loves peanut butter.
The freaking out quickly began.
